White Sox still considering all options in center field
PEORIA, Ariz. - When Juan Pierre was being shopped five years ago, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams expressed little interest.
Might that change now that the Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to trade the veteran center fielder/leadoff man?
"Do we have an all-star candidate in center fielder here?" Williams said. "No. But we'll keep looking. Everywhere. It's a never-ending search to find the best players, but we like what we have."
Based on his cost alone - Pierre is owed $28.5 million over the next three seasons - a deal to the Sox still appears highly unlikely. Aware of the dilemma, Pierre has told L.A. reporters he'd be open to deferring some of the contract should any team express an interest.
And as Williams said, he likes the three center-field candidates - Jerry Owens, Dewayne Wise and Brian Anderson - already in White Sox camp.
"Listen, Jerry Owens has the capabilities to be that guy," Williams said. "Dewayne Wise is not scared of anything or any situation. He's shown you that. Brian Anderson last year grew a little bit. He's struggled so far this spring, but he grew a little bit."
Wise is having a strong spring, and he continued to make a solid impression in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Kansas City Royals.
In the first inning, the 31-year-old journeyman led off with a single, stole second, went to third on A.J. Pierzynski's grounder and scored on Carlos Quentin's groundout.
In the fourth, Wise laid down a perfect bunt single.
While he has bounced around between the Blue Jays, Braves, Reds and White Sox - with a slew of minor-league pit stops in between - Wise might be on the brink of getting his big break.
"It's still a search," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I think Wise is the one that is swinging the bat real well out of that leadoff spot. We've put (Gordon) Beckham up there just to get at-bats. We hope we have the leadoff hitter we should have. That doesn't mean we won't go Plan B or C.
"We wish we had the ideal one. It could be Owens, it could be Wise. We don't care. Just go out there and do what a leadoff hitter does and give me something to start with. Our middle lineup is good, and I think a leadoff hitter will be a big part of our game."
Guillen also said Brent Lillibridge will get a look in center field. The natural shortstop has the speed suited for the leadoff spot. What about giving Beckham a shot in center?
"I'm not going to say no comment, it's not my style," Guillen said. "I will keep plugging him out there and we will try and play him in different positions. I want to make this clear - I'm going to play this kid at shortstop, third base and second base, not because I want him to be the utility guy. He's too good.
"I just want him to get at-bats and keep having the opportunity to open eyes. No matter where this kid plays he's got to play every day."
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